Track for toy trains



F. HORNBY TRACK FOR TOY TRAINS Filed Feb. 2'7, 1926 A ATTbRNEY PatentedGet. 19, 1926.

FRANK I-IORNBY, or LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T DIECCANO COMPANY,INCL,

OF ELIZABETH, KEV] JERSEY, A CORIPQRATIGH OF NEW YORK.

TRACK FOR TGY TRAINS.

Application filed February 27, 1926, Serial No. 91,020, and in GreatBritain March 23, 1925.

The present invention relates to improvements in tracks for toy trains.In toys of this kind it is altogether desirable that the installationand operation of parts be so simplified as to require only that degreeof skill found in young boys. It is also desirable that the elements maybe readily assembled and disassembled, in order that the user .may havepart in the building as well as in the operation of the toy.

In toy train outfits now on the market the switch and signal operatingrods are carried by brackets to be positioned near the track but whollyindependent thereof, and secured in place on the floor or other surfaceby tacks or screws. The proper positioning and securing of such bracketsis beyond the ability of the average small boy. Further, even when thebrackets are properly positioned and secured, the track must remain infixed relation thereto; and if the track be moved, the brackets must betaken up, and then again put in place,leaving the surface marked byholes.

' The object of the present invention is the provision of means wherebythe switch and signal operating rods are supported by brackets formed asa part of or carried by the track sleepers. With such arrangement noskill is required to position the brackets; they are securely held inplace by the track, without mutilation of the floor; the rods are alwaysin a position parallel to the rails, thus insuring smooth and reliableoperation; and the track structure including the brackets and rods maybe moved about at will and put in any desired location.

The invention broadly consists in a detachable sole plate having aflange depending from one side and extending beyond the end of theplate, said extended portion having a plurality of holes-through whichthe operating rods or cables are adapted to slide, and means forsecuring the plate to a sleeper. Such plates may be used in combinationwith tracks of the usual type now in the hands of users. Alternativelyto making the brackets as separate elements to be secured to the trackthe invention may be embodied in sleepers having a body portion with adepending flange on each side thereof, with an extension on one of saidflanges project ing beyond the end of the body portion, and a pluralityof holes in said extension through which the operating rods or cablesare adapted to slide. Both forms may be most economically made as bystamping from sheet metal, and such economy of manufacture is essentialto commercial production.

The accompanying drawings are for the purpose of illustrating, preferredforms, but it is to be understood that they are for that purpose onlyand are not meant to define the limits of the invention, as it iscapable of receiving other mechanical variations. In the drawings Fig. 1is a plan view of a track section showing detachable guide bracketsfitted to the sleepers;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line AA of Fig. 1 showing the guidebracket in position and bolted to the sleeper;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of such bracket;

Fig. 4 shows the application of the bracket for carrying the guide rodround a curve; 1 Figs. 5 and 6 are a planand a section respectively of abracket formed integrally with the sleeper.

In carrying out the invention the brackets 1 or the like in which theoperating rods 2 for the switch points or signal gear slide arepreferably made detachable as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Such bracketsare adapted to be secured to the sleepers 3 of the track, the rails i ofwhich are secured on the sleepers in known manner. The sleepers areprovided with a hole 5, and the sole plate or flat member 1 on thebracket 1 is similarly provided with a hole 5 The width of the soleplate 1 is such that it will preferably fit closely within the shallowside flanges 3 of the sleeper with a side flange 1 on the bracket lyingclosely against one of the side flanges 3* of the sleeper. When in thisposition the central'hole 5 in the bracket registers with the hole 5 inthe sleeper and a small bolt 6 may be inserted through the registeringholes and secured by a nut. The abutting of the flange l against aflange 3f will prevent any sidewise movement of the bracket.

The outer end of the bracket is formed with a flange 1 pressed uppreferably at right angles to the sole plate 1*, and in this upstandingflange is formed a series of holes 7 through which are passed theoperating rods such as 2, shownin the form of a wire of small diameter,for controlling the switch points or the signals, the rods beingconnected up in known manner to the usual bell cranks 8.

Such an arrangement besides ensuring parallelism of the operating rodswith the track over straight stretches also permits the rods to assume acurved formation around bends in the track as in Fig. l, the thin sheetmetal of the. flange 1 pern'iitting the curved rods to move slidablythrough the brackets without binding.

By providing the guide brackets with a series of holes a singleoperating rod 2. may 1 set or out at certain definite distances parallelto the. track, and the number of rods that may be used is limited onlyby the number of holes As the guide brackets 1 are all made accuratelyand of standart uniformity, when they are so positioned un der thesleepers that tl e holes 5 and 5 register, and the parts are bolted inplace, perfoot parallelism of the rods in the guide apertures 7 of thebracket with each other and with the track rails is ensured, thuseliminating the necessity for accurate marking off and positioning theguide brackets when installed on the floor at the side but independentlyof the track. Any slight play or clearance as between the holes 5 and 5and the bolts (5, which might resultin some slight difference in theposition of the brackets 1, is prevented by the end shoulder 1 of theflange 1 which shoulder is, a-buttcd against the end 3 of the sleeperwhen the guide bracket isbeing positioned and before the bolt 6 istightened;

If desired; the sole plate l of the bracket, instead of being formedwith a single hole, may be made with several holes, say three as shown,and in this case the holes may be advantageously pitched equidistantlyapart thus enabling thebracket to be used; in connection withconstructional toy systems. the characteristic feature of which is thefacility of coupling several of their parts together by reason of thevarious elements having eqnidistantly pitched holes. By likewisepitching the holes '2' the bracket lends. itself to being readilycoupled with other elements in such toy outfits and thus forms avaluable addition thereto.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, instead of the guidebracket being formed separate from the sleeper and then detach-ablysecured thereto, one of the sleeper flanges 3 is provided with anextension l similar to the, member 1 of the detachable bracket andsimilarly provided with the holes 7, such extension being integra l withand forming part of the sheet metal stamping, In this form absolutealignment of the holes 7 is ensured and consequently a smooth slidingmovement of the operating rods free from any liability of binding.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. in a track for toy trains, sleepers having a body portion providedwith one or more holes theretln-ough and a depending flange on each sidethereof, rails mounted on said sleepers, a detachable sole plate havinga flange depending from one side and eX tending beyond the end thereof,said extended portion projecting above the plane of the plate and havinga plurality of holes through which signal and switch Operating rods orcables are. adapted to slide, said plate being of a width to. fitbetween the sleeper flanges and of such length that the inner end of itsupwardly projecting flange will abut against the end of the sleeper tomaintain parallelism between said. rods and the track rails, an'd meansfor securing said plate to a sleeper.

2. In a track for toy trains, sleepers having a body portion with adepending flange on each side thereof, rails mounted on said sleepers, adetachable sole plate, means for securing the. same to a sleeper, aflange depending from one side of said plate. and abutting against oneof the sleeper flanges to prevent sidewise movement of the plate, anextension on said flange projecting above the plane of the plate. and.abutting against the end of thesleeper to prevent: niward movement ofthe plate, and a plurality of holes in said extension through whichsignal and switch operating rods. or cables are adapted to slide.

3. The combination with the sleepers and railsof track for a toy trainof a detachable element comprising a rectangular sole plate havingflange depending along one side thereof and extending beyond the end ofsaid plate, one or more perforations. in the plate adapted. to registerwith like perforations in the body of the. sleeper whereby the parts maybe secured together by bolts passing through said perforations, and aseries of perforations in the extended; flange tosupport and serve asguides for signaland switch operating rods or cables.

l. A detachable support and guide for signal and switch operating. rods.or cables in a toy railway system comprising a sole plate provided witha, flange depending from one side and extendingbeyond the end thereof,said extending portion, projecting above the plane of the plate and abuting against the endof the sleeper when in; p ace and having a pluralityof holes. through which said rods or cables are adapted to slide, andone or more holes. in said; plate adapted to register with like openingsin the sleepersto receive. bolts whereby -the.support is secured inposition.

5. A detachable support and guide for signal and switch operating rodsor cables in a toy railway system comprising a sole plate provided withone or more holes adapted to register with like openings in a tracksleeper and be secured thereto by bolts passing through said holes and aflange depending from one side of said plate and extending beyond theend thereof, said extended portion having a plurality of holes throughwhich said rods or cables are adapted to slide.

6. In a track for toy trains, rails mounted on sleepers having a bodyportion provided with a depending flange on each side thereof, an extenson on one of said flanges projecting beyond the end of the body portionand above the plane thereof, and a plurality of holes in said extensionthrough which signal and switch operating rods or cables are adapted toslide.

7 In a track for toy trains, rails mounted on sleepers having a bodyportion provided with a depending flange on each side thereof, anextension on one of said flanges projecting beyond the end of the bodyportion, and a plurality of holes in said extension through which signaland switch operating rods or cables are adapted to slide.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK HORNBY.

